A rare whale shark, the largest fish in the world and an endangered species, was spotted off the coast of Eilat on Sunday by an Israeli diver.
The great fish was sighted and documented by Ruslan Rabin, a resident of Carmiel in northern Israel, while diving off of Eilat’s EAPC beach, a popular site among those hoping to spot dolphins and exotic sea animals, according to Maariv.
“I was swimming near the pillars when suddenly this giant creature appeared. It’s a bit scary and fascinating at the same time, especially with the small fish circling around it. I swam with it for a bit until it disappeared into the depths. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime feeling; crazy adrenaline and immense joy,” Rabin told Maariv.
Whale sharks can reach up to 12 meters (39.3 feet) in length (the largest ever accurately measured was 18.8 meters (61.7 feet) long) and weigh about 15 tons on average.
They inhabit the open waters of all tropical oceans, and it is believed that they may live for over a century.
Shai Oron, Gulf of Eilat ecologist at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, was cited by Maariv as saying that this was not the first time the whale shark has visited Israel’s Red Sea waters.
Oron said that it is very important to document the rare fish, classified as a protected species in Israel amid its endangered status, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
“Every photo or video is added to an identification database that compares each individual’s unique ‘spot pattern’,” she continued, referring to the white spots on the animal’s back.
Whale sharks feed on plankton and are not considered dangerous to human beings.
“In order to encourage more whale sharks to visit our region, we must keep the waters free of plastic and waste, protect the reef and its biodiversity, slow down boats and maintain a safe distance,” Oron continued. “Most importantly: do not touch, do not ride, only admire, photograph, and report sightings through the SeaWatch app, because every small report adds another piece to the puzzle of protecting the ocean’s gentle giant.”
